DAHIL TUMATAKBO PO ANG BALITA:
Tubatuba downs 21 pupils in Tubigon
Twenty one elementary pupils in Bohol were rushed Wednesday afternoon to a local hospital after being poisoned by jathropa or tubatuba fruit.
Radio station dzMM reported Thursday that the victims were Grade 1 and Grade 2 students from the Batasan Elementary School in Batasan Island, Tubigon town.
Jerick Edel, one of the victims, was reportedly lured to eat the fruit located just outside the school premises and invited his other classmates to join him.
The physic nut of tubatuba according to the kids tasted like peanuts.
The children then suffered stomach pains and were soon rushed to the Tubigon Community Hospital for treatment. One is rushed to Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital. No one died of the incident.
Poisoned were Princess Mae Ladrera, 7; Alfe Oldenaria, 12; Chandrina Premacio, 10; Jollyvie Bananola, 7; Krishia Cosicol, 7; Chrsitine Mae Sucano, 7; Jhul Raven Fernandez, 13; Genalyn Cubellas, 8; Jessa Bananola, 7; Jonalyn Alipoyo, 8; Dynaven Saavedra, 7; Aina Plaza, 9; Reggie Premacio, 9; Reca Mejares, 7; Angelica Cabillo, 8; Billy Joe Premacio, 12; Erica Me Mejares, 7; Jerrick Elle, 9; Stephen Oldenaria, 7; Esteban Tabat, 7; Everlie Bopero, 8.
Jatropha is potentially lethal to humans and animals once ingested.
Health officers in Mindanao have been quoted in previous reports as saying that jatropha fruits, once eaten, could cause death if medication is not immediately administered on the patient.
Though ornamental in the tropics, research shows that tubatuba fruits and foliage are toxic to humans and animals.
Currently the oil from Jatropha curcas seeds is used for making biodiesel fuel in Philippines, a law was authored by Philippine senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Miguel Zubiri, and is being promoted as an easily grown biofuel crop in hundreds of projects throughout India and other third world countries. Oil extracted from the seed of the jathropa plant, or physic nut, can be used to produce biofuel and soap. The plant's leaves are also used to fumigate households and expel bugs.
It takes a 30-minute boat ride from the Tubigon town proper to reach Batasan Island.
Tubigon is a second class municipality and seaport in Bohol that has a population of 40,385 people in 7,714 households.
Linkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=2918.0